The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-03-17

and drew them to the lane for the
purpose of building his part of the
fence; but Uncle Joe made no move in
that direction: He spent much OF his
time in the neighborhood of the lane,
He carried his gun most Of the time.
Now and then he brought home d
rabbit for dinner. He had been, 80 he
was tond OF saying, something Of 4
hunter IN his time, and even now was
counted q good shot for q man OF his
age.
After Dick had finished splitting
rails for the fence, he had sharpened
his axe, and, taking d good scythe,
went down to clear the ground oil
brushes and briars. ..
He knew this would be no small
task, but his arms were strong and
his will good. Hardly an hour had
he worked when rifle shot rang out
on the air and his strong right arm
dropped to his side painfully wound.
ed.
So severe was his injury that he
could do nothing toward discovering
who fired the murderous shot, and
he was alone. After he had made. his
way to the house, the alarm was Civ.
en- and d crowd OF men and boys
turned out and hunted the lane from
end to end, but in vain; no one could
be found hiding there, and the deed re.
manned q mystery.
In this way things stood for some
time. Dicks arm healed slowly some.
how. The bone had been injured
little, the doctor said, Dick saw Bess
! now and then. He conld uot help no.
ticing that the poor girls cheeks were
growing paler day by day and she
seemed ready to break down when.
ever he came to see her. Her father
was home but little now. Night and
day he stood guard at the lane, a
| sturdy veteran on some self=imposed
post OF duty. He had even slept out
in the bushes several times all night,
coming to his meals in the morning
stiff and so1e from the damp, but
with determined look on his face.
He was q man who never yielded
what he thought was right. The
thirty days given by law had passed.
and the township trustees "allowed"
to build the fence in a few days.
They had watched things from dis
lance and knew how desperate the
old man was.
About this time Dick and Bess hap.
pened to be sitting on the porch in the
harvest moonlight. Uncle Joe was
out on the fence probably. Neither OF
the young people referred to him.
As they sat thus Dick turned his
eyes toward the DEVILS lane.
What was it he saw?
He sprang to his feet. Away down
at the farther end of the lane q cloud
OF smoke curled lazily up.
AS he watched, the breeze freshened
little, and lurid glare leaned angri-
ly skyward, sweeping the fire directly
down the lane.
Some one had fired the underground
which crowded the lane!
It was q time OF the year when ev:
erything was as dry as finder. There
had been no rain for weeks, and a fire
like that was a thing to be dreaded.
| Where is your father, Bess?"
The girl now rose quickly, and with
startled gaze looked toward the lane.
"He must be down yonder. Dick,
I'm afraid-you don't suppose"
"The bush is on fire. If yonr father
is there he is in danger. will 60 and
see If can find him."
Before the words were fairly spoken
Dick had cleared the fence surround.
ing the farm house, and was running
swiftly toward the fire, Bess following
as fast DIS she could.
| How the flames did sweep through
that thicket 1t seemed to lick the
cracking bushes up like leaves. If her
father was there-no; she couldn't
bear to think what might be his fate.
The old man was tired with his watch.
ing. He might have fallen asleep down
there as he had so often before.
Dick soon reached the lane and
plunged into the bushes so near thu
fire as he dared. If Uncle Joe was be-
hind him then nothing short of q mir.
acle could save him. If in front, then
he possibly might be rescued from
death in the flames.
"Don't come in here, Bess," shout
ed Dick as he saw the girl about tc
leap into the thick growth of brushes
near him. 'Go farther down and
look along the fence.''
Poor Bess obeyed silently. How
like g. very giant he seemed to her as
he tramped through the briars, mud
and bushes, tearing his face and hands
terribly, hunting for the wilful old
man who had wronged him so! Now
there was his right arm powerless
Did Bess know who had fired the shot
that had made it so? If she did, sht
dutifully kept the secret.
On and on swept the flames, chasing
Dick like mad demons. The lowel
; end of the lane was in sight. That
would end the search. Where was thu
old man? Had he missed him? Coul6
it be he had indeed persisted? Dicks
heart had weeks ago softened towards
the old man. 1t was a useless quar-
rel. He was ashamed of his part in it
If he had known how Uncle Joe felt
about it, he never would have said s
word about the miserable Lane.
Suddenly a Tow cry fell on Dicks
ears. 1t came from the rear, where
the fire was raging fiercely. Dick knew
Uncle Joe had been found.
Could he reach him before it would
be too late? God help him he would
try. Nerving himself for the ordeal
he rushed back through the smoke to
ward the spot whence the cry pro
ceeded. Again tine call came, this time
full of horror.
Plunging on, his feet hot, his breath
choked, and his clothing on fire If
places, the young man heroically made
his way.
When almost ready to drop hi
found Uncle Joe staggering blindly
toward the place. He was fearfully
burned and almost exhausted.
Selling him with his left arm, Dicl
bore him out into the meadow anG
placing him on the ground, rolled hin
over and over till the flames which
were eating into his flesh were put out
Then he fell to the earth himself un
conscious.
BY this time Bess had reached them
Quickly she wrapped Dick in her owr
garments, deadening the fire, and h
was saved!